Typhoon Yolanda Update | How to Help and Where to Donate

Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda, as it is called in the Philippines, started to form on November 3, 2013 and evolved into a super typhoon several days later. The highest wind speeds measured in at 195 kph with over 1,800 confirmed deaths and about 10,000 left undocumented. The super typhoon destroyed USD858.60 million dollars in properties and produce including substantial damage to livelihoods. The affected areas include China, Vietnam, Micronesia, and the Philippines—the last being the most devastated of them all. Haiyan is the strongest pacific typhoon ever recorded counting as a tropical cyclone.

Yolanda (Philippines) / Haiyan (International) – From PAGASA DOST

The most decimated provinces in the Philippines are Leyte and Samar with six accounted landfalls in a span of 12 hours. Aside from strong winds, Yolanda also brought about heavy rains that easily led to flooding. For areas that were near coastlines, waves as much as six meters in height were recorded during the rampage.

The effects of the typhoon were so strong that even reinforced buildings like the primary airport in Tacloban were destroyed. In this particular location, apart from demolished buildings, Yolanda also brought about destruction in the streets. Trees were knocked down and so were power lines. Residential buildings were as easily destroyed with inhabitants either injured or trapped for dead.

Houses, cars, plans and even people were overpowered.

Over a thousand people in Tacloban alone were recorded dead only after several hours. Samar was not far behind with an initial death toll of 800. The super typhoon led to an estimated destruction of up to 80% of both provinces. The storm has officially left the Philippines’ area of responsibility but these provinces remain under a state of calamity with more people being proclaimed dead every minute and numerous families still lost in the wreckage. News is sparse but sought-after. Several images of the super typhoon have trended online including the dreadful capture of the dead sprawled unto city streets.

Communication towers have since been restored but the reach is still limited. Plenty of people have been left with zero food, clothing, shelter, and most of them are still in the search for their loved ones. There have been constant relief efforts during the past couple of days but cases of hijacking and looting have been reported.

Before and After. A thousand words indeed.

One truck carrying relief goods to the people of Leyte was hijacked while several deliveries have failed to reach their destinations. There is no trace of the goods or the perpetrators of the crime. Times have gotten really tough: the living have also been reported to steal from the dead. Some residents have taken belongings like clothing and other materials that they could find from the dead that line the streets. Government trust is extremely low. A lot of people are beginning to lose hope.

The Philippine government is slated to begin repair operations in Yolanda-devastated provinces beginning December 1, 2013 after all recovery and retrieval operations have been completed.

Even now, the relief efforts are hampered by doubt. With the current onslaught of government trust issues, embassies have also started direct relief efforts where no donation, financial or in-kind, are said to pass through the different government facilities. Different accredited volunteers and organizations will be delivering these relief goods directly to the typhoon victims and communities in the ravaged provinces. You can find more details about this matter here and discover netizens’ reactions and discussions of the disaster here. Even as some compare and contrast it to recent disasters such as that in New Orleans, debating how Philippine government response and safety nets measure up to US ones, one thing at least cannot be debated: that there are thousands upon thousands of people at the moment for whom the only debate is whether or not they and their loved ones shall survive this tragedy.

Relief operations are under way

It’s clear that the Filipino people are being tried very sorely by this disaster. Fortunately, many people are rising up to the challenge.

We ourselves at Leapfroggr have been doing and offering assistance for the victims of the disaster, and we encourage everyone we know to do the same. Constant relief efforts are underway and several drop-off, collection, and repackaging points have been set up in Manila and surrounding provinces.

For those who are interested in lending a helping hand, here are the necessary details compiled according to city base (the list also includes details for national and international donors):

INTERNATIONAL

World Vision (International Christian Humanitarian, Development and Relief Organization)
Donor hotline: 372-7777 or visit their website

World Food Programme Philippines
Donations can be made via credit card or Pay Pal
Check their website here

ShelterBox
ShelterBox is an international charity focusing on disaster relief and management: it provides emergency supplies as well as shelter to victims of disasters. Donations for victims of Typhoon Yolanda can be made through the charity’s website.

On Taxation and Donation

Local donations and relief efforts are not taxed but the same cannot be said for international aid. Depending on the point of donation or the manner by which any financial aid is given, different tax rules may apply. As declared by the Philippine government, for all donations that have been coursed through government offices and departments, local and international aid will not be susceptible to duties. There are a limited number of international organizations like Unicef and the World Food Program that also offer tax-free donating. As for other avenues, all aid will pass through domestic customs and providers will be liable for standard taxation.

“We are providing a water treatment plant along with the.. hospital” @UNICEF spokesman on #Tacloban relief effort.#AC360

Aside from making monetary donations, donations in kind will be greatly appreciated. Apart from this, you can also help out with the repackaging efforts for relief goods. There are different venues holding such events. You can find these and more online. The local governments are also asking for volunteers to help with the delivery of relief goods. In Manila, aside from government offices and local charities, one of the main drop off points is Villamor Airbase in Pasay where a number of survivors are staying.

For those making monetary donations, please keep in mind that caution is still wise here. To avoid your donation going astray, choose only an authorized and reputable charity like the ones listed above. Investigating charities before donating is a good idea, as you want to be sure you do not make the mistake of giving to an illegitimate organization. Keep in mind too what you want the money to achieve. If you want to make sure your money helps the victims with medical costs, for example, look for a charity that focuses on that. By the same token, if you want your money to help people now instead of later (the resettlement process), make sure your chosen charity is focused on the immediate situation as well. You can use the numbers provided above and the contact details for the organizations to ask them about what they plan to do with your money.

On Updates and Social Media

For the latest updates on typhoon Yolanda, the devastation and how you can help, follow #Yolanda,#YolandaPH on social media networks.

Other hashtags you can follow are #BangonCEBU, #BangonOrmoc, #BangonVisayas, #ReliefPH,#YolandaActionWeekend, #Haiyan, #ShapePH, #StrongerPH

Those on Instagram can make use of the great images there with timely info on where you can donate or how you can offer support and there’s no shortage of inspirational quotes.

Let’s extend our assistance to our fellow brothers and sisters who have lost everything due to this natural tragedy. Let’s help those who need assistance during these trying times. Let Filipinos work as one again for our fellowman.

If you have a charity or operate on your own, then let us know, we will gladly add you here so the people in your community can find out.

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